Page 97 of Red Fire

Then I’m running to him. Running faster than I ever have in all my life.

“Creed!” I scream, the waves lapping at my ankles, wetting my jeans. I throw myself into his arms. He groans again. I pull back. “Shit! Sorry. I’m hurting you.”

His arms are around me, pulling me close. “You’re not hurting me.”

He’s breathing heavily.

“I can’t believe it’s you. How did you get here? How did you know? What just happened?” Then I hug him again. “I’m so glad you’re here. So, so glad. You saved me…again,” I say into his chest. He’s so warm. So real. I didn’t think I’d ever see him again. I look up, wanting to see him.

He frames my face with his hands and brushes his lips against mine. Then he puts his forehead to mine for a few moments, closing his eyes.

He pulls back, looking me in the eye. “I’m here because I hoped to stop your flight, which left early. I was standing there, feeling sorry for myself, watching your plane leave when I saw Tank bring it down. You know the rest.”

“Okay. Why did you want to stop the flight? I don’t understand.”

“Isn’t that obvious? I didn’t want you to leave. I still don’t want you to leave.”

I frown. “Do they have mating ring thingies with more than one woman as well? Because if they do, I’m a one-man kind of girl. I don’t share. I won’t!”

He laughs. He’s gorgeous when he laughs. Too pretty to be legal. I want to kick him. “What are you laughing at, mister? This isn’t funny. It isn’t funny at all.” I put my hands on my hips.

“I don’t believe in mating circles at all. Let’s be clear about that. Aspen and I had a talk, and she made me realize a couple of things.”

“Yeees?” I’m feeling skeptical. I’m waiting for the shoe to drop. Then I realize what it is he is trying to tell me. “Oh shit! I know what you’re going to say.”

He frowns. “What am I going to say?” He folds his arms, giving me his full attention.

“That you and Aspen are going to be married, and you wanted me to attend as the maid of honor, which is only right since I got the two of you back together.”

“You did, did you?” It’s clear he’s trying not to laugh, which is pissing me off. I’m glad he thinks that this is all a big joke.

“I can’t do it, Creed. I just can’t. It would be super weird and really wrong because…I…because…”

“Because?” He lifts his perfect brows, and I want to slap him.

“Because I have feelings for you, you big asshole. I can’t believe you haven’t noticed. Okay,” I roll my eyes and groan, “fine. Icanbelieve you haven’t noticed because I’ve been trying to hide them. I was always going to go back home, and then Aspen came back, and she’s so pretty. Holy shit, no wonder you’ve been carrying a torch for her for all this time. I think I might be a little in love with her myself.”

His eyes widen.

“I don’t like women. Relax, I’m not going to steal her from you.”

He laughs again.

“You’d better stop that. It’s irritating me.” I wag a finger at him.

“Can you stop talking for half a second?”

“I told you I struggle when I’m nervous. It would seem that I am…nervous, that is. I’m feeling very nervous right at this minute.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know why. I nearly died. You nearly died. You’re standing here…on the beach…about to tell me something thatcould change my whole life. I don’t know what it is. I’m hoping it’s good, but I know it might be bad and—”

“Shut up, Octavia.” Creed takes my hands. “I have feelings for you, too. I saw Aspen. She came to the house. I felt nothing. Not a thing for her. She was the one who had to point out to me how I was feeling about you. She told me to go after you. She told me you felt the same way about me. And you know what?”

My mouth has fallen open, but I force it to close and to move. “What?”

“She was right. I’m totally in love with you.”